Patriots to play 5 games against winning teams

The New England Patriots will start their season at Buffalo on Sept. 8 then play their home opener four days later in a Thursday night game against the New York Jets.

Five of the Patriots 16 games will be against teams that had winning records last season. One of them, the Denver Broncos, visits the Patriots on Nov. 24 with former New England wide receiver Wes Welker, who left as a free agent.

The other four are on the road at Atlanta (13-3) on Sept. 29, Cincinnati (10-6) on Oct. 6, Houston (12-4) on Dec. 1 and Super Bowl champion Baltimore (10-6) on Dec. 22. The Ravens beat the Patriots, 28-13, in Foxborough in the AFC title game last season.